A survey once pointed out that 80 per cent of computers in this world were being used to only connect to the Internet. Another study estimated that there are over 1 billion personal computers on the planet.
On July 9, over half of that one billion, may fail to connect to the Internet — marking the start for what many are calling the ‘computer apocalypse’.
Trouble began when pesky hackers attempted an online advertising scam to take control of infected computers worldwide. The crims earned profits from advertisements that appeared on websites that victims were tricked into visiting. The scam then netted the hackers at least $14 million (not much, is it?) and made thousands of computers reliant on rogue servers for browsing.
Then, in a highly unusual response, America’s FBI set up a safety net using government computers to prevent Internet disruptions for infected users - meaning they were browsing the Web via this system.
And now, the ‘Feds’ have decided to pull the plug on their system — a step that could leave thousands, and probably millions without Internet services on July 9. Numbers estimate that the figure starts from 570,000.
The affected are primarily ‘home users’ whose ability to recover from such a crisis is severely limited. Governments, other that the United States, have made no statements regarding the problem and, unfortunately, many are still unaware of the impending doom.
But trying to solve the problem, is a link. The FBI are encouraging users to visit a website, http://www.dcwg.org, that will let people know if they’re infected and explains how to fix the problem.
There are still many rumors floating around July 9 but one thing’s for sure. That’s the day the world’s millions will hit the enter button, and pray.
On July 9, over half of that one billion, may fail to connect to the Internet — marking the start for what many are calling the ‘computer apocalypse’.
Trouble began when pesky hackers attempted an online advertising scam to take control of infected computers worldwide. The crims earned profits from advertisements that appeared on websites that victims were tricked into visiting. The scam then netted the hackers at least $14 million (not much, is it?) and made thousands of computers reliant on rogue servers for browsing.
Then, in a highly unusual response, America’s FBI set up a safety net using government computers to prevent Internet disruptions for infected users - meaning they were browsing the Web via this system.
And now, the ‘Feds’ have decided to pull the plug on their system — a step that could leave thousands, and probably millions without Internet services on July 9. Numbers estimate that the figure starts from 570,000.
The affected are primarily ‘home users’ whose ability to recover from such a crisis is severely limited. Governments, other that the United States, have made no statements regarding the problem and, unfortunately, many are still unaware of the impending doom.
But trying to solve the problem, is a link. The FBI are encouraging users to visit a website, http://www.dcwg.org, that will let people know if they’re infected and explains how to fix the problem.
There are still many rumors floating around July 9 but one thing’s for sure. That’s the day the world’s millions will hit the enter button, and pray.
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